“Edmonton Public Library Program Losing Provincial Funds Hoping City Will Fill Gap”

The Edmonton Public Library is hoping the city will take on the funding for a program that keeps social workers at the Stanley Milner Library, because the provincial grant that has paid for it is running out.

Pilar Martinez, deputy chief executive officer of Edmonton Public Libraries, said with the grant ending, the library isn’t asking for any new money for the approximately $300,000 a year program, and will instead aim to find the money elsewhere if council approves their budget.

In partnership with Boyle Street Community Services, EPL’s outreach program was launched in 2011 in response to the increasing number of people seeking refuge in the downtown library.

In collaboration with library staff, EPL’s three outreach workers operate within and outside library walls to support and empower at-risk Edmontonians through literacy, education and social support. Based on EPL’s community-led service model, the project targets individuals who may not access existing social services but do access libraries because they are safe and welcoming spaces.

About Gary Price

Gary Price (gprice@mediasourceinc.com) is a librarian, writer, consultant, and frequent conference speaker based in the Washington D.C. metro area. Before launching INFOdocket, Price and Shirl Kennedy were the founders and senior editors at ResourceShelf and DocuTicker for 10 years. From 2006-2009 he was Director of Online Information Services at Ask.com, and is currently a contributing editor at Search Engine Land.